insurance on restored 1978 Westfalia

[kmmcdonald]

How do you all insure your buses?

I am about to have my 1978 CEII Westfalia restored, and I need to consider insurance. Our existing policy is standard for an old car, but I am sure that the insurance company would give me practically nothing if the car got wrecked.

On the other hand, there is collector car insurance. It is very inexpensive, will insure for whatever value we agree upon, but places restrictions on the use of the vehicle (e.g. no racing competition (!), pleasure driving only (no commuting), can't serve as a second vehicle, no trips to the mall/large parking lots. I can't even drive it to the grocery.)

Any advice?

thanks

Keith

[afhusband]

I had my *nice* bus appraised by my insurance company @ $20k!! (I almost "wanted" to get hit!)
It was not collectors or classic ins. though. Those had some pretty strict mileage limits.
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1974 TinTop Westy -I'm Lovin it!!
Glass blowing, banjo pickin, bay-window bus driver.
vWYo New aircooled club for Cheyenne WY and surrounding areas!

[kevin77westy]

I've got my older VWs insured thru Safeco as antique cars with stated values that I gave them.. I think my 77 Westy comes out to a little over $300/year with a value of about $7K.. My 1970 GMC pickup has no stated value on the antique policy and its a whopping $56/yr.. I have not had any claims with them so far so I cannot say if they will try and screw me or not. Past experience with insurance companies in general says they will.. In the meantime at least I am saving money compared to my previous company.. I could not abide by the rules that a lot of the "collector" insurance companies have unless I acted like everyday was a parade.. Laissez les bon temps roulez!

[Mooncalf]

Not specific to buses, but last year I insured my 71 Super through my regular insurance company as an antique. I had to get an appraisal and give them some photos, but it went pretty well...and there aren't really any strict rules on what I can and can't do. Basically, all it says is "Limited use antique/classic." My agent said this adds up to stuff like driving it to shows and "reasonable" pleasure drives (which is all I had time for last year). No set mileage limits or anything like that, I think it runs me about $90/year with an appraised value of $8K (liability + collision/comp w/ $250 deductible). If it became a daily-driver type car, I'd insure it as such, provided they accepted the appraisal value (I'd also have to switch it out of antique registration).

The bus is nowhere near driveable, so I haven't discussed it with them yet...I'm hoping it's not one of those "We'll only insure your Westy if you don't camp in it" deals.
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71 Super
73 Westy Tintop (Long-Term Project)
79 Bay (RIP)
73 Kombi (Long Gone)
73 Super (The bug that got away)

[babysnakes]

I applied at Havertys, the rates were great but I could not meet the requirements. If you can garage the bus, check them out.

[MalibuLX3]

[patayres]

I would be very careful with the collector's insurance agencies (Hagerty's, ACI, etc)... they generally will only cover driving the vehicle for short pleasure rides, to & from car shows, and that's about it. Camping is verboten & if you were to have your bus insured as a collector car and then have an accident while out on a camping trip you may find your policy voided. My advice is be honest with the insurer about how you intend to use your bus, so that if you ever need their coverage they will have no reason to deny it.
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1975 Westfalia Helsinki - 1800 EFI w/ Pertronix
1965 Singlecab - 1600dp

yuthi'so'coro

[WestyPop]

Anyone checked on Good Sam's insurance for a baywindow camper? They insure some huge, expensive motorhomes; wouldn't think they'd have a problem with a stated value policy for a restored Westy.
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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
______________________________________
J.R.
68 Westy
(+ others)

[SGKent]

We are with USAA. We have it currently insured adequately under a collector's policy. At some point when we start using it for camping etc, we will need to move it to our regular USAA policy so the premiums will go up, probably triple. However they assure us that as long as we can document that the value we specified in the policy is what we really put into it to restore it (and we can), they will insure it for same. Right now we only use it for pleasure drives etc and if we stop to eat etc it is never out of out sight or reach. Many times I wish they still made bays for the North American market so we could just use it and not worry about parts or insurance and theft etc.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[ccpalmer]

I'm with USAA too; I've heard nothing but great things about them and hope that with all my receipts I would be fully covered in the event of a crash... I use my Bus for work, camping, fishing and shows. No collector's insurance here!

And I agree with the idea of being honest to the insurance company about how you use the Bus. You're doing us all a favor.
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'71 Westy

[Emeritusx]

American Family here.. 178 a year... I do have antique plates, but its the state that says only 1000 personal miles a year, but unlimited mileage to shows and what not... I have had my agent since 94. I think that helps, he handled my bike wreck and I did ok, they handled a person who got bit by my renters dog, I never even went to court on that one...

Dont lie though... Like said before, just tell 'em what you want, even drive it to them (or they will come to you) so they can take the pix.

Multiple policy discounts help too...
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82 Westy ☢, 66 Splitty ☮, 73 Type 181 ✠

[babysnakes]

[aeromech]

I had my 1971 bus insured through USAA (Collectors) insurance for about $7000 and the premium was about $75/year. We had an accident and they paid about $3000 for the repair with no deductable. It was the other guys fault so hopefully they were paid back by the other insurance company. So, yes... you can get insurance this way and it does work but just be sure to get your story straight when you have to talk with the adjuster. If it's a daily driver don't do it.
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[aeromech]

Bringing back an old thread.

Last year I purchased a very nice 1971 bus for $10K

Since then I've been pouring more money into it including most recently having the top painted and new window seals plus a new engine going in soon.

The value of my bus right now is pretty close to $20K and I want to make sure it's adequately insured. USAA is my provider (38 years) and I'd like to keep this vehicle with them but after talking to the girl just now, it seems like she doesn't really know what to do. I think an appraisal would be good to get but I kind of expect them to ask for one or some other way to establish value.

We've all read many stories here about guys smashing up their buses and insurance companies trying to bone them. I don't want that to be me. Collectors Insurance is not an option because I don't keep it garaged and I like driving it more than just to car shows. So the frustrating part is that just when the girl was going to find out what to do the call dropped and she didn't call me back.

Does anyone have USAA on their bus that can help me?
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[Xevin]

Gary, sent you a PM
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Keep on Busin'

[skills@eurocarsplus]

AGREED value policy. you will need collectors insurance to make sure you are covered. my camper, deluxe and s/c are with grundy and all 3 are over 100K for about 900/year.

when I just had the camper it was pretty cheap...iirc it was at 25K
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[Clatter]

I went round and round with all of the different collector insurance places.

Watch out if you are a camper owner.
Back when I was shopping for my Westy, a lot of them would avoid what some consider an "RV".

other didn't insure vans, no matter what.

I had to have a real car insured as my daily driver,
And prove that the bus was kept inside,
Plus send them pics and fill out a lot of detailed paperwork.
Something like 5K miles per year or less.. But IIRC, they never verified the mileage.

Was able to insure my Oval, Fastback, and bus through them for proper amounts and very cheap.

Haven't had to put the policy to any real tests yet (knock knock)
But so far I have been happy with what they had to say, and how it all worked.


https://americancollectors.com
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Bus Motor Build

What’s That Noise?!?

[aeromech]

Most cars on the road are worth way more than my bus. I just want to fight the battle now instead of if or when I make a claim. Collectors insurance would be great if I only drove to car shows, but I dont
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[skills@eurocarsplus]

as long as it isn't a 'daily' and you have a 'real car' for that you'll be fine with grundy.

I can even camp in my camper too. it WILL have to be garaged, and they will Zillow your address
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[Ksprague]

We just shopped around and ended up with Haggerty's as well. It seemed like all the other companies we talked to farmed it out to them anyway, so we went direct. It's very inexpensive. Our agent told us that camping was restricted, but they did allow one or two camping trips per year. (Which sounded really weird to us )

The challenge, as I see it - is really determining what the value should be. You get to pick it, but Too high and the premiums are up there - too low and of course they'd total it over a fender bender.
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Kevin
(1972 Campmobile "Maggie")

"The bus came by and I got on, that's when it all began."
~ Bob Weir